Things to do in  Carlisle

The Beatrix Potter Gallery is a popular destination for families and all fans of the famous author’s children's books. This 17th-century building in the town of Hawkshead, in the Lake District, was once the office of Potter's husband, the solicitor William Heelis, and now houses much of her original artwork.

In the heart of Carlisle town, Carlisle Castle is a Norman-built castle that played an important role in the history of both England and Scotland. Used as a defensive stronghold and a prison, a visit here will take you a thousand years into the past.

Children’s author Beatrix Potter lived in the 17th-century Hill Top farmhouse for most of her life, and bequeathed it to the National Trust on the condition that it was left “as if I had just gone out and they had just missed me.” The farm was a huge source of inspiration for Potter, who based many of her much-loved books here.

For 800 years, this stately pile overlooking the Eskdale valley has been—and still is—home to the Pennington family. Built in the 13th century, the castle has been expanded several times, most recently in 1885. Visitors can explore sumptuous state rooms, 77-acre (31-hectare gardens, and observe birds of prey at the Hawk and Owl Center.

Framed by conifer woods, livestock-dotted fells, and peaks, this much-loved beauty spot in the Lake District National Park consists of a large tarn (mountain lake, which was created by combining three smaller tarns in the 19th century. The land, once owned by Beatrix Potter and now managed by the National Trust, is open to the public.

The furniture, books, and personal possessions of William Wordsworth still sit inside Rydal Mount, where the Romantic poet lived from 1813 up until his death in 1850. Visitors can explore the house, which is owned by Wordsworth’s descendants, and wander the landscaped gardens, which were largely designed by Wordsworth himself.

The Lake District’s third-largest lake, Coniston Water is known for its depth and its scenic surrounds, which offer prime conditions for water-based activities. The area’s human history reaches back to the Bronze Age, and more recent notable locals include Victorian thinker John Ruskin and the writers Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter.

Flanked by grassy peaks, this scenic glacier-sculpted valley includes three lakes: Loweswater, Buttermere, and Crummock Water. With easily scalable fells such as Haystacks, pretty lakeside footpaths, and natural wonders including Scale Force Waterfall—the highest waterfall in the Lake District—Buttermere is prime turf for walkers.

Set at the foot of Loughrigg Fell, Rydal Water is one of the Lake District’s more modest-sized bodies of water, though its strong literary connections, multitude of walking opportunities, and scenic beauty means it rides high on travelers’ wishlists. William Wordsworth’s former residence, Rydal Mount, sits at the eastern end of the lake.

At 4 miles (6.4 kilometers long and 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers wide, Bassenthwaite Lake is among the biggest in the Lake District. Surrounded by gentle fells and without a single settlement on its shoreline, this tranquil lake offers hiking, wild swimming, and bird-watching opportunities, with fish-eating ospreys coming here to hunt.

With its slate-roofed heritage buildings, cozy old pubs, and cobbled lanes, Hawkshead Village is the picture of English country idyll. Home to William Wordsworth’s old school and Beatrix Potter’s home, the village has got some impressive literary links. Green forests and fells on its doorstep, plus a car-free center, add to its appeal.

With a depth of 243 feet (74 meters, Wastwater is England’s deepest lake. Not only that, but it sits in the shadow of England’s highest peak, the 3,209-foot (978-meter Scafell Pike, which rises up to the northeast. The scenery here is among the most wild and dramatic in the Lake District, with scree slopes towering over inky waters.

Craggy peaks rise up around the clean, clear water of this large stream-fed lake, creating a postcard-worthy panorama. Scenic walking trails run along part of the shoreline and into the surrounding fells, leading to overlooks and beauty spots including Scale Force, the highest waterfall in Cumbria’s Lake District.

Nestled just north of the English border in Scotland, the Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop is known for hosting the marriages of couples who had fled England’s restrictive marriage laws during the 1700s and 1800s. The quaint shop remains a wedding venue and draws visitors with its marriage rooms, museum, shop, and restaurant.